You better watch out, Auburn’s annual Country Christmas is coming to
town.

Auburn residents like to celebrate, and Christmastime is no exception. Old Town Auburn will transform Saturday night from a quaint shopping
district to an old-fashioned, down-home country fair.

If you haven’t heard about Country Christmas by now, well, there is really no excuse. It is Auburn’s premiere Christmas fair, rounding out the holiday festivities after the Festival of Lights kickoff. Two Saturday evenings in December, the roads are closed and entertainment and fun abound.

Among the many attractions, one annual favorite is Pony Rides by Nancy. Nancy Cuevas has been offering pony rides at Country Christmas for eight years. She said the kids love it, crowding the street corner around 7 p.m. for a chance to ride one of her ponies — or the horse, which she brings for the older kids.

This year, Cuevas will bring ponies Chelsea, Bunky and Sun Dance and horse Tiara. For $3, she said parents can give the kids “the ride of their lives.” She believes in giving them their money’s worth, so her rides are long and hand-led.

Cuevas eagerly awaits the rain-or-shine fair each year, saying that it’s nicely organized and a fun family event, although organizer Linda Robinson warns that a drenching downpour will cancel the affair.

“It’s very homey,” Cuevas said Thursday. “You see everyone you know, and it’s cheerful.”